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Sentinel & Enterprise

Updated:
12/23/2012 07:14:02 AM EST

Ex-Mass. House Speaker McGee dies at age 88

BOSTON (AP) -- Thomas McGee, a tough-talking, cigar-chewing ex-Marine who played a key role in Massachusetts politics as House speaker for nearly a decade before a former lieutenant ousted him in a leadership struggle, has died. He was 88.

His family said Saturday that McGee, of Lynn, died Friday after ailing for some time.

McGee served in the U.S. Marines during World War II and graduated from Boston University School of Law in 1953.

He was elected to the Houser in 1962 and became speaker in 1975. He served for a then-record five terms until lawmakers voted for the first time in modern history to oust a sitting speaker, replacing him with the former majority leader he fired a year earlier in a power dispute.

A public memorial service will be announced in January.

Group home worker's family seeking report

PEABODY (AP) -- The family of a Massachusetts woman allegedly killed by a resident of a group home has asked a judge to order the release of a new report on the killing.

Stephanie Moulton, of Peabody, was a case worker at the group home where Deshawn Chappell had been placed when she was fatally stabbed in January 2011. Chappell was charged in her killing.

The Salem News reports that Moulton's parents want access to what they believe is a Department of Mental Health report to use in a lawsuit they've filed against the state and directors of the private agency that ran the group home.

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A judge has given lawyers for the state time to file a response. The family is also seeking information on Chappell's prior placements and any incidents that led to his transfer to the home.

The Boston Globe reports that Menino predicted during a visit by Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart that he expected to be released from the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital today. His office said a Sunday release in time to spend Christmas at home was a "hope," but not a certainty.

The longest serving mayor in the city's history went to Spaulding to continue his recovery last month after spending about six weeks at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital for treatment of a respiratory infection that developed during a vacation in Italy.

While at the hospital he suffered complications including a compression fracture in a vertebra in his spine. Menino was also diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

School buses in Haverhill hit by BBs or pellets

HAVERHILL (AP) -- Police officers have been assigned to school buses in Haverhill after windows on two buses were shattered by what investigators believe were BB or pellet guns.

Some of the students on the buses were showered with glass but no serious injuries were reported after the incidents on Thursday. Police aren't sure who was responsible.

Lt. Robert Pistone said the first incident involved a bus carrying 4- and 5-year-old preschool students. The second occurred later in the day and involved a bus with high-school students aboard.

The city had already beefed up security at schools in response to last week's deadly shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.

Cardinal to visit shelters, celebrate Masses

BOSTON (AP) -- Boston Archdiocese Cardinal Sean O'Malley will visit homeless shelters and celebrate a series of Masses during the Christmas holidays.

The cardinal will visit the Pine Street Inn the morning of Christmas Eve and will celebrate midnight Mass that night at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston.

On Christmas Day, O'Malley will visit St. Francis House in Boston and offer his Christmas blessing. Later that morning, he will celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

On New Year's Day, the cardinal will celebrate a noon Mass with the Haitian Catholic community at the cathedral.

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